ne coold and drie wiþ erþe; but oure q{ui}nta e{ss}e{nci}a avayliþ to
þe cont{ra}rie, as heuene incorruptible / But vndirstonde þ{a}t oure 12
q{ui}[n]ta e{ss}e{nci}a is nouȝt so incorruptible as is heuene of oure
lord god; but it is incorruptible in reward of composiciou{n}

[It is called, 1. Burning Water; 2. the Soul in the spirit of
Wine; 3. Water of Life; and if you wish to conceal it, Quinte
Essence.]

maad of þe .4. elementis; & it hath .iij. names by the philosophoris,
þ{a}t is to seie / bre{n}nynge watir / þe soule in þe spirit of 16
wyn, & watir of lijf / But whanne ȝe wole concelle it, þa{n}ne
schal ȝe clepe it ‘oure q{ui}nta e{ss}e{nci}a’; for þis name, & þe
nature þ{er}of, riȝt fewe philosophoris wolde schewe / but sikurly
þei biriede þe truþe with hem. and witiþ weel that it is clepid 20

[It is neither moist and cold like water, nor hot and moist
like air, nor cold and dry like earth, nor hot and dry like
fire.]

brennynge watir; and it is no bre{n}ny{n}g watir: forwhi, it is not
moist ne coold as comou{n} watir; for it bre{n}neþ, & so doiþ not
comyn watir; ne it is nat hoot and moist as eir, for eir corru{m}piþ
a þi{n}g a-noon, as it schewiþ weel by gen{er}ac{i}ou{n} of flies, 24
& areins, and siche oþ{er}e; but sikirly þis is alwey incorruptible,
if it be kept cloos fro fliȝt / Also it is n{o}t coold and drie as erþe.
for souereynly it worchiþ & chaungiþ. And it is not hoot and
drie as fier, as it schewiþ by exp{er}ience; for hoot þingis it keliþ, 28

[It gives incorruptibility, for it prevents dead flesh from